What Our Members Have To Say
Letter from a Member "David Rose"
March 31, 2010
Dear Friends and Colleagues
I was as surprised as anyone that it would be my name on the bottom of this letter, but I feel that as non-union employees we are at a cross roads. I am hearing more and more stories about the people I work with being contacted by the Society of Energy Professionals (SEP), or by a group calling itself the Toronto Municipal Professionals Organizing Initiative. I am worried that a lot of us haven't given full consideration to what it would mean to consider joining the SEP.
In my previous career, I was a unionized worker. In fact, I was the local Chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for seven (7) years. I was working at CN Rail, and our union was part of a large international union not dissimilar to the SEP. We paid high dues, a large proportion of which went to the International office in Washington, D.C. After years of dutifully sending money south, when we did strike they refused to fund our $25/week for picket duty, or offer us any support! It was eye-opening to say the least.
Through our work, we have been the reliable partner of the City of Toronto. We are an integral part of the machine that keeps the City running. In fact, this past summer we were the machine that kept the City clean and safe.
Do I like that last summer's strike gave union workers COLA increases and wage increases? Not really, but what I like even less would be City of Toronto non-union employees taking advantage of the taxpayers in a similar fashion. COTAPSA has worked consistently on our behalf to find "win-win" solutions. We deserve to be treated fairly by the City, but I know what it is like to strike, and I don't want to be part of any group that holds our fellow taxpayers to ransom.
I know some people think unionizing will solve all of our problems overnight. The fact is that the Society of Energy Professionals (SEP), are not representative of us, and probably couldn't represent us anyway. While they have branded away from representing energy workers, they have no experience representing municipal employees in Ontario.
Truth be told, they are just another big union that is looking for more dues-paying members. They may have a lot of resources, but do you know what pays for those resources and their huge overhead? Mandatory union dues that are a lot higher than the COTAPSA dues we pay. Most importantly, they are not promising anything that COTAPSA isn't already addressing. COTAPSA is responsive to our needs. COTAPSA is led by Members; we don't pay dues to fat cats that will leave us high and dry when the going gets tough.
So where does this leave us? COTAPSA has delivered for us on a lot of fronts: we get Family Day as a statutory holiday, we had our lieu time extended, we received fair treatment with regard to Sick Leave Days, our retirement program was enriched and COTAPSA continues to represent members with regard to workplace issues.
Now, we are starting to see movement on a Framework Agreement, and a balanced municipal budget gives us even more leverage.
I'll be completely frank, is our situation perfect? No. Let's think for a moment what it would mean to join the SEP. If you get contacted by the SEP or the Toronto Municipal Professionals Organizing Initiative, you should go in with your eyes open, and with some questions.
1. How much will I have to pay in union dues? How much more is this than the optional dues from COTAPSA?
2. COTAPSA's board is made up of volunteer, non-union employees, with only three staff. How much does the SEP leadership make on the back of its members?
3. Isn't the SEP promising the solutions to issues that are already being addressed by COTAPSA?
4. How many municipal employees in Ontario does the SEP currently represent?
5. COTAPSA is on the cusp of a Framework Agreement. Why are you interfering with that?
I have been in contact with our COTAPSA leadership about these questions, I would encourage you to do the same thing. I am not involved with COTAPSA much more than any of my friends and colleagues, but I feel strongly that the SEP sees us as an easy source of union dues.
I, for one, am a believer in being reasonable. Why then would I want to join a union whose only distinction will be to cost me more money and make my workplace more regimented? I have seen what it is like to be in a large, international union when I was with the IBEW. I have seen how they work, and they are a recipe for a very, very expensive disappointment.
Kind Regards,
David Rose
cc: COTAPSA, Inc.
Feedback from Our Members
You're preaching to the converted. I left the union 14 years ago and I'm doing fine with COTAPSA.
I am NOT interested in examining a 'union' possibility for non union management staff. This is ridiculous.
I just want to let you know that I am happy with COTAPSA and have no interest in this unionization effort. Thanks for all your efforts.
I think this UNION thing is absolutely ridiculous! There is no way that I would join! COTAPSA has my support 100%!!!!!
Greetings Friends - I have one door in my office…….it’s the only way in or out. It is always open to COTAPSA and will always remain closed to SEP….as I have no interest in joining a union……now, or any time before I pass away!
I am very happy with the work COTAPSA is doing.
I think you guys are doing a great job and I have no intentions on joining anything else.
Thanks very much for sharing David Rose’s letter. I have not heard from any union, but I am in agreement with his letter.
Thank you for sharing the letter. I agree that unions are not the solution to our issues. We already have COTAPSA doing the best they can. Hopefully our Members will think before they act. I wish though that we could somehow persuade our Mayor and City Council to see the light!
I fully agree with David Rose’s letter.
I agree with David completely. And there must be some Ontario legislation that makes it impossible for management staff to actually be in a union. COTAPSA isn’t a union in the same regard as Local 79 or this SEP union. It’s not like we could join Local 79 tomorrow, so how can we just join another union? Makes no sense to me…..
I do agree with David Rose’s letter 100%. I don’t want to be part of any international or American union, period.
I do not want to belong to any union. I did not appreciate being deployed during the strike and I do not appreciate my salary being frozen, but joining a union is not the answer. Those are my thoughts, so keep up the good work.
Thank you for sending this letter to us. Speaking personally, I think we have had excellent representation from COTAPSA. I would not remotely consider signing with this union.
Please keep working on my behalf. I do not wish to join any union. Thank you for keeping me informed.
I agree with the comments in David Rose’s letter. I don't think Management should be in a union. A professional association is more appropriate and COTAPSA is making headway for us. I also think COTAPSA reps need to have more member support; i.e., show up for Council when our issues are being addressed.
For anything we lost unfairly (I'm one of the few at the top of the wage scale who gets nothing and these are my last 5 years), COTAPSA should now be able to negotiate confidently, using solid reasoning, in the next round of discussions. Hopefully, we can make up for some of the loss. I like the framework agreement idea - it's a good start to a worthwhile, long-term negotiation process. Whatever the outcome, I don't think an outside SEP can do better; i.e., they're not here to understand the day-to-day operations and many issues and polices involved. I also believe the remarks made in the attached letter that the outside SEP will not come through when we need them most.
I concur with Dave Rose's comments. I have seen info circulating in e-mails; read it and deposited in the trash.
COTAPSA has my continued support. I feel you have worked hard, kept us informed and as volunteered members you should be commended for your dedication and determination in obtaining and securing 'our' benefits.
Thanks for forwarding. I am still supportive of COTAPSA.
Great letter. Agreed, joining SEP is not in the cards for me, never was. Thank you and Cheers!
